A material conveying system capable of traversing a floor along a curvilinear path, the system comprising a plurality of framework members arranged in tandem on the surface along a portion of the path to form an elongated longitudinally extending conveyor train; and connector means on each framework member cooperate with connector means on each adjacent framework member for coupling the plurality of framework members, the connector means permitting movement between adjacent framework members. The conveying system also includes a plurality of the framework members including a crawler chain assembly comprising a plurality of crawler chain pads interconnected by chain links to form an endless loop. The crawler chain assembly extends over a lower portion of each of the plurality of framework members wherein the crawler chain pads are maintained in engagement with the floor, and over an upper portion having an upper surface that supports the chain pads. The adjacent framework members include cooperating means for limiting the articulation between adjacent framework members in the horizontal, vertical and longitudinal directions, such cooperating means comprising outboard side tubes having a trapping on one end, the trapping being received in the hollow other end of the side tube of the next adjacent frame member. The framework members also include means for supporting an orbitally moveable endless conveyor belt above the crawler chain assembly, the conveying run of the orbitally moveable conveyor belt operable to convey material substantially throughout the longitudinal extent of the train.
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1. A material conveying system capable of traversing a floor along a curvilinear path, said system comprising:
a plurality of framework members arranged in tandem on said surface along a portion of said path to form an elongated longitudinally extending conveyor train; connector means on each framework member cooperate with connector means on each adjacent framework member for coupling said plurality of framework members, said connector means permitting movement between adjacent framework members; a plurality of said framework members including a crawler chain assembly comprising a plurality of crawler chain pads interconnected by chain links to form an endless loop, said crawler chain assembly extending continuously throughout said plurality of framework members along the longitudinal extent of said train, over a lower portion of each of said plurality of framework members wherein said crawler chain pads are maintained in engagement with said floor, and over an upper portion having an upper surface that supports the chain pads, and wherein adjacent framework members include cooperating means for limiting the articulation between adjacent framework members in the horizontal, vertical and longitudinal directions, such cooperating means comprising outboard side tubes having a trapping on one end, the trapping being received in a hollow other end of the side tube of the next adjacent frame member, and said framework members including means for supporting an orbitally moveable endless conveyor belt above said crawler chain assembly, the conveying run of said orbitally moveable conveyor belt operable to convey material substantially throughout the longitudinal extent of said train.
9. A material conveying system capable of traversing a floor along a curvilinear path, said system comprising:
a plurality of framework members arranged in tandem on said surface along a portion of said path to form an elongated longitudinally extending conveyor train; connector means on each framework member cooperating with connector means on each adjacent framework member for coupling said plurality of framework members, said connector means permitting movement between adjacent framework members; said framework members including a crawler chain assembly including a plurality of crawler chain pads, said crawler chain assembly extending continuously throughout said plurality of framework members along the longitudinal extent of said train, over a lower portion of each of said plurality of framework members where said crawler chain pads are maintained in engagement with said floor, said lower portion including two spaced apart plates, and over an upper portion having an upper surface that supports the chain pads, said upper portion including two spaced apart plates, said crawler chain assembly comprising a plurality of interconnected chain links forming an endless loop, said plurality of crawler chain pads, each being connected to a part of said chain links by a guide retainer assembly, said guide retainer assembly including a guide retainer having a width that is greater than the larger of the spacing between the plates forming the upper and the lower portions of the framework member, and means for securing said guide retainer to a respective crawler chain pad between said upper and lower portion spaced apart plates so that said guide retainer is on the inside of said upper and lower portion spaced apart plates and said crawler chain pad is on the outside of said upper and lower portion spaced apart plates, and said framework members including means for supporting an orbitally moveable endless conveyor belt above said crawler chain assembly, the conveying run of said orbitally moveable conveyor belt operable to convey material substantially throughout the longitudinal extent of said train.
3. A material conveying system capable of traversing a floor along a curvilinear path, said system comprising:
a plurality of framework members arranged in tandem on said surface along a portion of said path to form an elongated longitudinally extending conveyor train; connector means on each framework member cooperate with connector means on each adjacent framework member for coupling said plurality of framework members, said connector means permitting movement between adjacent framework members; a first plurality of said framework members including a crawler chain assembly comprising a plurality of crawler chain pads interconnected by chain links to form an endless loop, said crawler chain assembly extending continuously throughout said plurality of framework members along the longitudinal extent of said train, over a lower portion of each of said plurality of framework members where said crawler chain pads are maintained in engagement with said floor, said lower portion including two spaced apart plates, each plate having an irregular forward edge and an irregular rearward edge so that at least part of said irregular forward edge of one framework member mates with at least part of said irregular rearward edge of an adjacent framework member to form a surface at least partially supporting said crawler chain pads as each traverses between adjacent framework members, and over an upper portion having an upper surface that supports the chain pads, said upper portion including two spaced apart plates, each plate having an irregular forward edge and an irregular rearward edge so that at least part of said irregular forward edge of one framework member mates with at least part of said irregular rearward edge of an adjacent framework member to form a surface at least partially supporting said crawler chain pads as each traverses between adjacent framework members, and said framework members including means for supporting an orbitally moveable endless conveyor belt above said crawler chain assembly, the conveying run of said orbitally moveable conveyor belt operable to convey material substantially throughout the longitudinal extent of said train.
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The present invention relates to conveyor systems, and more particularly, is directed to improvements related to the crawler chain of a self-propelled articulated conveyor system.
In mining operations, especially in the underground mining of coal and the like, a variety of conveyors are used to transport the mined materials from the mining machine to their ultimate transportation location. During the early stages of mine development, main haulageways are created within the mine to accommodate stationary main belt conveyors that ultimately transport the mined ore from the mine or to remote collection areas. A variety of different conveying systems and apparatuses have been developed for transferring the mined material from the mining machine to the main belt conveyors.
In the past, shuttle cars or other short distance haulage vehicles have been used to transport the mined material from the mining machine to the fixed terminal end of the main conveyor. The use of shuttle cars and other such haulage vehicles is intermittent, time consuming, and inefficient in not providing for the continuous transport of the mined materials from the mining machine to the fixed conveyor. Thus, in more recent years there have been several developments directed toward a mobile articulated conveyor that provides for continuous transport of the discharge of a continuous miner to the main conveyor as the miner advances into the mine face and changes the direction of its forward movement.
One of these more recently developed mobile articulated conveyors is shown in the Bodimer patent, U.S. Pat. No. 4,865,185, and sold by a company related to the assignee of this invention. More specifically, this invention is an improvement to the crawler-mounted conveying train shown in the Bodimer patent, which is incorporated herein by reference.
A number of different auxiliary conveying apparatuses exist for transferring the mined material from the discharge of the mobile articulated conveyor to a stationary panel conveyor or main conveyor. For example, in one conveyor arrangement, the discharge end of the mobile conveyor is arranged to tram beside the stationary main or panel conveyor and a third "bridge" conveyor is employed to transfer the mined ore from the mobile conveyor to the stationary conveyor.
An object of the present invention is to provide a conveyor with an improved traction drive system for moving the mobile articulated conveying system along the mine floor either straight or along curvilinear paths while substantially eliminating any binding or other deleterious forces normally associated with or resulting from moving a rigid member through. horizontal or vertical curved paths.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a conveyor system having a flexible track drive system capable of bending around horizontally and/or vertical curves while delineating a fixed elongated path within a mine.
The present invention provides a material conveying system capable of traversing a floor along a curvilinear path, the system comprising a plurality of framework members arranged in tandem on the surface along a portion of the path to form an elongated longitudinally extending conveyor train; and connector means on each framework member cooperate with connector means on each adjacent framework member for coupling the plurality of framework members, the connector means permitting movement between adjacent framework members. The conveying system also includes a plurality of the framework members including a crawler chain assembly comprising a plurality of crawler chain pads interconnected by chain links to form an endless loop. The crawler chain assembly extends continuously throughout the plurality of framework members along the longitudinal extent of the train, over a lower portion of each of the plurality of framework members wherein the crawler chain pads are maintained in engagement with the floor, and over an upper portion having an upper surface that supports the chain pads. The adjacent framework members include cooperating means for limiting the articulation between adjacent framework members in the horizontal, vertical and longitudinal directions, such cooperating means comprising outboard side tubes having a trapping on one end, the trapping being received in the hollow other end of the side tube of the next adjacent frame member. The framework members also include means for supporting an orbitally moveable endless conveyor belt above the crawler chain assembly, the conveying run of the orbitally moveable conveyor belt operable to convey material substantially throughout the longitudinal extent of the train.
In a preferred embodiment, the lower portion includes two spaced apart plates, each plate having an irregular forward edge and an irregular rearward edge so that at least part of the irregular forward edge of one framework member mates with at least part of the irregular rearward edge of an adjacent framework member to form a surface at least partially supporting the crawler chain pads as each traverses between adjacent framework members. The upper portion also has an upper surface that supports the chain pads, the upper portion including two spaced apart plates, each plate having an irregular forward edge and an irregular rearward edge so that at least part of the irregular forward edge of one framework member mates with at least part of the irregular rearward edge of an adjacent framework member to form a surface at least partially supporting the crawler chain pads as each traverses between adjacent framework members.
In a preferred embodiment, each of crawler chain pads is connected to a part of the chain links by a guide retainer assembly, the guide retainer assembly including a guide retainer having a width that is greater than larger of the spacing between the plates forming the upper and the lower portions of the framework member, and means for securing the guide retainer to a respective crawler chain pad between the upper and lower portion spaced apart plates so that the guide retainer is on the inside of the upper and lower portion spaced apart plates and the crawler chain pad is on the outside of the upper and lower portion spaced apart plates.
Before one embodiment of the invention is explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of the construction and the arrangements of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. Use of "including" and "comprising" and variations thereof as used herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. Use of "consisting of" and variations thereof as used herein is meant to encompass only the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof. Further, it is to be understood that such terms as "forward", "rearward", "left", "right", "upward" and "downward", etc., are words of convenience and are not to be construed as limiting terms.
As shown schematically in
Further, as is conventional in the art, the main conveyor 14 includes means (not shown) for supporting an endless conveyor belt (not shown) thereon. The conveyor belt does, however, include joints (not shown) that are separable so additional belt can be added when the main conveyor 14 needs to be lengthened.
The conveying system 10, as shown in
More particularly, as shown in
In the preferred embodiment, the receiving end 68 includes steering means (not shown) for directing the advancing conveyor 56 along an elongated path within the mine. Steering means (not shown) may also be included at the discharge end 64 to steer the articulated conveyor 56 during retreat from the mine face.
As shown in
The crawler chain assembly 74 extends continuously throughout the plurality of framework members 66 along the longitudinal extent of the articulated conveyor 56. Still more particularly, the crawler chain assembly 74 extends over a lower portion 84 of each of the plurality of framework members 66 wherein the crawler chain pads 78 are maintained in engagement with the floor, and an upper portion 88 having an upper surface 92 that supports the chain pads 78.
More particularly, as can be seen in
As shown in
As can be seen in
A plurality of rollers comprise the means mounted on each framework member 66 for moveably supporting the orbital conveying belt 70 within the open area of the articulated conveyor 56. An upper series of rollers are provided for supporting the upper conveying run portion of the belt 70 and a lower series of rollers are provided for supporting the lower run portion of the belt 70.
Edge rollers 104 and 106 are mounted on brackets 108 and 109 respectively which are mounted across the bottom of the upper section 96, thereby supporting edge rollers 104 and 106. The brackets 108, 109 are attached in any convenient manner to the support members 100 and 102. In the preferred embodiment, a pair of belt support rollers 112 and 114 are also supported by and within bracket 108, 109.
In the preferred embodiment, the upper conveying run portion of the belt 70 is supported by respective left and right troughing idlers 116 and 118 and a centrally-disposed dumbbell idler 120. As can be seen in
For maintaining the upper conveying run portion of the orbital belt 70 in an operative position on the troughing idlers 116 and 118 and the dumbbell idler 120, each framework member 66 is provided with a respective left and right upper edge idler 126 and 128. The edge idler 126 is supported on bracket 122 and the edge idler 128 is supported by bracket 124. As can be seen in
In the preferred embodiment, the belt 70 is driven at each end of the articulated conveyor 56 by an electric motor and speed reducer (not shown). The details of this drive are taught in U.S. Pat. No. 4,339,031 in
In the prior art articulated conveyor of Bodimer U.S. Pat. No. 4,852,724, as shown in
More particularly, as shown in
More particularly, each of the front and rear edges of the plates include a tab 166 protruding on about half of each edge. As shown in
As can be seen in
As mentioned earlier, each crawler chain pad 78 is connected to a part of the chain links 82 by the guide retainer assembly 130 shown in FIG. 6. The guide retainer assembly,130 includes a guide retainer 170 having a width that is greater than larger of the spacing between the plates forming the upper and the lower portions of the framework member 66, and means for securing the guide retainer 170 to a respective crawler chain pad 78 between the upper and lower portion spaced apart plates 150 and 154 so that the guide retainer 170 is on the inside of the framework member 66 and the crawler chain pad 78 is on the outside of the framework member 66.
The spacing between the plates 150 and 154 forming the top and bottom portions 88 and 84 of the framework members 66 permit passage of the crawler chain assembly 74 between the plates. More particularly, the guide retainers 170 pass within the interior of the framework member 66, held within the member by the plates 150 and 154. The chain links 82 extend between the spacing between the plates 150 and 154, and the crawler pads 78 are outside of the framework member 66 but guided along the framework member 66 by the guide retainers 170.
More particularly, the guide retainer 170 has a central portion 174 that has a recess 176 to receive a chain link 82, a left wing 178 extending from the central portion 174, and a right wing 180 extending from the central portion 174. The wings 178 and 180 and central portion 174 form a width that is greater than the spacing between the plates 150 and 154 forming the top and bottom portions 88 and 84, respectively, thus securing the retaining guide 170 within the framework member 66. Sufficient clearance is provided between the guide retainer 170 and the plates 150 and 154 so as to limit wear between the guide retainer 170 and the plates 150 and 154. Unlike in the prior art constructions, the guide retainers are of sufficient bulk to permit extended use without a need for a replacement. Further, unlike in the prior art, the guide retainers 170 take the wear, not the chain links 82, for it is the guide retainers 170 that rub against the framework member plates 150 and 154, and not the chain links 82.
Still more particularly, as shown in
The articulated conveyor 56 also includes means for driving the crawler chain assembly 74, the driving means including a drive sprocket 202 (see
The articulated conveyor 56 further includes connector means on each framework member 66 that cooperate with connector means on each adjacent framework member for coupling the plurality of framework members, the connector means permitting movement between adjacent framework members 66. More particularly, as shown in
The adjacent framework members 66 also include cooperating means for limiting the articulation between adjacent framework members in the horizontal, vertical and longitudinal directions, such cooperating means comprising, as shown in
Chandler, Gregory M., Thomas, Terry M.
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Executed on | Assignor | Assignee | Conveyance | Frame | Reel | Doc |
Apr 30 2002 | Joy MM Delaware, Inc. | (assignment on the face of the patent) | / | |||
Apr 30 2002 | THOMAS, TERRY M | JOY MM DELAWARE, INC | ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS | 013125 | /0470 | |
Apr 30 2002 | CHANDLER, GREGORY M | JOY MM DELAWARE, INC | ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS | 013125 | /0470 | |
Jan 23 2004 | JOY GLOBAL INC | DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, AS AGENT | GRANT OF PATENT SECURITY INTEREST PURSUANT TO THE AMENDED AND RESTATED SECURTY AGREEMENT | 014515 | /0615 | |
Apr 30 2018 | JOY MM DELAWARE, INC | Joy Global Underground Mining LLC | MERGER SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS | 047096 | /0399 |
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